Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn

To consider the annual report

A report was submitted by the Cabinet Member, Dyfrig Siencyn, outlining the achievements of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board over the past year.  Members were reminded that the Board had agreed on priority areas that would improve the economic, environmental and cultural well-being of both counties.

It was reported that the Board accepted the need to focus on what could be achieved in the current climate as the resources of public bodies were under pressure and there were further threats of savings. Nevertheless, by collaborating, opportunities to work differently could be identified and implemented and innovative ways of operating could be introduced.

A brief update was provided on the developments within the six priority fields.

It was reported that the Public Services Board was being scrutinised by the appointed Scrutiny Committees of Gwynedd and Anglesey local authorities and that a joint scrutiny panel between both counties would be developed to scrutinise the work.  It was noted that Gwynedd Council and Isle of Anglesey County Council scrutiny officers were discussing key actions in relation to the option of establishing a joint panel during the next months.

The Cabinet Member had confidence in the Board's work and reported that there was a sense of trust amongst Partnerships and there was a desire of wanting to succeed.  Everyone was thanked for their contribution.

In response to a comment regarding a lack of resources to realise the objectives, along with the loss of grants as a result of Brexit, the Cabinet Member noted that despite the need to use existing funding, joint success could be seen by sharing and collaborating.  He reiterated that Welsh Government itself was in an unusual situation of having to set budgets without knowing what its contribution would be. Despite the confusing situation, there was a need to aspire for the best and identify a better and innovative way of working.

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual Members:

·         Climate Change - disappointment was expressed that the work in the context of flooding was reactive, rather than innovative and ambitious.

·         Was there a desire to collaborate with the Social Housing Associations in terms of building houses / low carbon homes. 

·         There was a need to consider cheap ways of building and maintaining houses - e.g. low energy, solar power, ground source heat, that would ensure savings for the future and an affordable element for the tenant.  

·         Homes for Local People - sites needed to be identified in the right places and the homes needed to respond to the need

·         Details were needed regarding the measures and milestones of the projects, and to set a robust timetable rather than noting short-term, medium-term, long-term

·         Needed to acknowledge and respond to poverty matters - possible to consider food banks

·         Needed to re-assess numbers / housing needs as a result of the delay with the Wylfa Newydd Scheme 

In response to a question regarding the relationship with Welsh Government and the Board's ability to influence the adaptation of policies to achieve change, the Cabinet Member noted that the partnership represented a number of public bodies and so should their views or comments need to be expressed, there would be weight to that.  It was accepted that it would be difficult to influence policies; however, there was a need to ensure that the messages were shared.  It was reiterated that the Future Generations Commissioner was taking an interest in the work but again, did not possibly have the powers to amend policies.

In response to a comment regarding the economic element, it was noted that the economy had not been identified as one of the Board's work fields as the North Wales Ambition Board would be doing this across north Wales.

RESOLVED to accept the report with a request for an update on the partnership's developments every six months.